The effect of cannabis on the young

NZ Herald reports:

The persistent use of cannabis before age 18 has been linked to lasting harm to intelligence, according to a large study.

Analysis of more than 1000 New Zealanders found those who took up cannabis in adolescence and used it for years afterwards experienced an average decline in IQ of eight points when measured at age 13 and 38.

This backs up my observations over the years about “stoners”. I recall the local president of NORML at Otago Uni would regularly get up at SRCs and say something along the lines of “I’ve been smoking cannabis for years and years and it has never done me any harm”.

However it would take him around 30 seconds to get those 16 words out in his slow slurred speech, and it was unintentionally hilarious. I suggested he should be sent on an educational tour of schools – he’d probably scare most kids off ever trying it!